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Gateway Motorsports Park Hosts NASCAR Event Saturday

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 10: William Byron, driver of the #9 Liberty University Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

MADISON, Ill. (AP) – Based on his current form, Camping World Trucks series rookie William Byron looks poised to run away with the championship.

Byron survived a thrilling finish to win last weekend in Iowa, his second straight series victory and third in just nine races heading into this weekend’s event at Gateway Motorsport Park outside of St. Louis.

Byron has never raced at Gateway, but that might not matter. The 18-year-old picked up wins in Kansas and Texas this season in his first trip to those courses.

“We have exceeded what we thought we’d do. But I don’t think we set a goal for a certain number of wins. Based on the last couple of years I didn’t know how long it would take to get that first win. I thought maybe it would take 10 to 15 races,” Byron said.

Byron has made himself more than just the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year after such a surprising start. He’s now just 11 points back of series leader Matt Crafton.

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